*

Reading again...

2010-10-14T17:29:00.000-07:00

Secularism, materialism, and the intrusive presence of THINGS have put out the light in our souls and turned us into a generation of zombies. we cover our deep ignorance with words, but are ashamed to wonder, we are afraid to whisper "mystery." -Tozer

2010-06-27T13:53:00.000-07:00

2010-05-29T06:19:00.000-07:00

This is the day the Lord has made... let us rejoice in it.

2010-04-22T10:18:00.001-07:00

The apostle Paul says, "Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life-and place it before God as an offering." (Romans 12:1 MSG)

"Lord our God, may your blessings be with us. Give us success in all we do!" (Psalm 90:17 TEV).

2010-04-20T11:50:00.001-07:00

God’s humility brought Thomas to a place of surrender. God will meet the skeptics if they are willing to look at the evidence that He gives them. Jesus can turn doubt into belief. DBV

2010-04-19T14:52:00.001-07:00

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" - Edmund Burke

2010-04-19T06:59:00.001-07:00

Monday, April 19, 2010
When you pray, give God your guilt
by Rick Warren
Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us. Matthew 6:12 (TEV)
"If you're a Christian carrying guilt around, it's because you're not taking advantage of what Jesus Christ did on the cross."

We all make mistakes. We all have regrets. I don't measure up to my own standard for myself, much less God's standard of perfection. It's not very hard to admit you're not perfect. So what do we do when we fall short?

I was listening to a psychologist on the radio recently. A guy called in and was pouring his heart out about how guilty he felt for things he had done wrong. He asked, "How can I get rid of my guilt?" This psychologist said: "You can't. You've got to learn to live with it." I almost shouted at the radio: "Wait a minute! Give me that guy's phone number! He doesn't have to go through life filled with guilt!"

There is no reason in the world you have to live with guilt. God has given us a way to get rid of guilt. It's called confession. God promises that when we confess, He forgives us instantly, totally, completely, freely, and continuously. If you're a Christian carrying guilt around, it's because you're not taking advantage of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. The next step in making contact with God is pardon: I give God my guilt.

God wants to forgive you.

You don't have to beg for forgiveness -- "God, please, pretty please with sugar on it!"
You don't have to bargain - "God, if you forgive me, I will never do it again."
You don't have to bribe -- "God, if You'll forgive me, I promise to always read my Bible."
You simply believe God because he says you are forgiven.

If you ever run out of things to pray about, just get specific about your sins and weaknesses. When I talk with God about my weaknesses and sins, I never lack for subject matter. In fact, I'm always coming up with new material! There's plenty of things to talk about in my life that need to be changed.

You worship God through prayer when you give him your love, your life, and your worries. And also when you ask him for forgiveness of your sins.

2010-04-16T08:10:00.001-07:00

When u expect others to meet needs in your life only God can meet, it's unfair to them & insures disappointment in you. -Rick Warren

2010-04-14T10:36:00.001-07:00

"Your will be done, because I know it is the best and that's what I want for my life today!"

Nathan the Prophet... about Jesus life and kindom. 2 Samuel 11-17

2010-04-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.' " Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

Friends missed....

2010-04-12T10:49:00.000-07:00

2010-04-07T12:56:00.001-07:00

How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number- living things both large and small. - Psalm 104:24-25 (NIV)

More Easter...

2010-04-07T06:38:00.000-07:00

Easter...

2010-04-07T06:32:00.000-07:00

2010-04-01T10:00:00.001-07:00

There were the disciples. they were the men who for the moment had forgotten God their world had fallen in and they were sure the end had come. The last thing they remembered at that moment was God; the only thing they thought was the terrible situation into which they had come. Two things happen to those who forget God and leave him out of the situation. They become utterly terrified and completely disorganized. They lose power to face life and cope with it. In the time of trial, life is unlivable without God.

There was Jesus. And Jesus was the one person in the whole scene who remembered God. The amaizing thing about him in the last days was his absolute serenity once Gethesemane was over. In those days, even at his arrest, it was he who seemed to be in control; and even at his trial, it was he who was judge. when we walk with God we can cope with any situation and look any foe in the eyes, unbowed and unafraid. Then we can say with confidence, as W.E. Heneley's poem Invictus put it so powerfully:

Inthe fell clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowe'd

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

It is only when we bow to God that we can talk and act like conquerors.

Judas...

2010-04-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

I too have strength -
Strength to behold him and not worship him,
Strength to fall from him and not cry to him.
- Elizabeth browning

God save us from a strength like that!

Thunifer with a thurible...

2010-03-31T08:48:00.001-07:00

"For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering.Malachi 1:11

Why do we use incense in the services?

The tradition of using incense in the liturgy dates back to ancient Hebrew worship, as recorded in the Psalms: "Let my prayer be set forth in Thy sight as the incense" (Psalm 141:2). As this verse suggests, incense symbolizes the prayers of the faithful rising up to heaven as the smoke rises to the rafters. Incense also appears in the Bible in association with visions of the Divine, most notably in the book of Isaiah and the Revelation to St John. The smoke itself is associated with purification and sanctification; thus, we cense the consecrated elements of the Eucharist to show that they are set apart, and when we cense people we are not only symbolically "purifying" them but also acknowledging that they are set apart by their Baptism. Worshipping with incense is another way in which traditional Catholic worship engages our senses.

and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God. Rev. 8:4

Holy Saturday (in Latin, Sabbatum Sanctum ), the 'day of the entombed Christ', is the Lord's day of rest, for on that day Christ's body lay in His tomb. We recall the Apostle's Creed which says "He descended unto the dead." It is a day of suspense between two worlds, that of darkness, sin and death, and that of the Resurrection and the restoration of the Light of the World. For this reason no divine services are held until the Easter Vigil begins that night. This day between Good Friday and Easter Day makes present to us the end of one world and the complete newness of the era of salvation inaugurated by the Resurrection of Christ.

Ideally, Holy Saturday should be the quietest day of the year (although this is not so easy in a busy household with children as it might be in a convent or monastery.) Nightfall on Holy Saturday is time for joy and greatest expectation because of the beautiful liturgy of the Easter Vigil, often referred to as the Mother of all Holy Vigils, or the Great Service of Light. The Easter Vigil was restored to the liturgy in 1955, during the liturgical reform which preceded the Second Vatican Council.

During the day, the preparations at home which must be made for Easter Day are appropriate, however, because they keep our attention fixed on the holiness and importance of the most central feast of the Church. Working with our children to prepare for Easter can offer us many 'teaching moments', as well.

Incense shows forth several things:

Its burning represents zeal in the service of the Lord. Think of that as you see the sacred smoke rising in the Sanctuary. Recall that you are to give of your time and talent, your service and means to the worship of God. Are you going to let a mere material creature like incense outdo you in divine service? The incense is burnt for the glory of God. How about you?

Its fragrance represents virtue, pleasing to God as it always is. How pleasing is your life and your service? Can you feel that your devotion in Church, your thoughtfulness of God, your keeping of His law, is of a kind that will please Him?

The rising smoke represents prayer and shows that your prayers are rising too. The smoke reminds you to pray, if you are not praying. The fragrance of the smoke shows that our prayer and service are pleasing to God.

God commanded Moses and His chosen people to use incense. The Church uses it in her service. Think of what all this means and it will be a source of grace and spiritual strength to you.

I added "up".

2010-03-24T08:16:00.001-07:00

They were also to stand up every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same in the evening.

Blessed by Tom....

2010-03-23T13:12:00.001-07:00

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.
Psalm 127:1

God delights in our seeking and searching to know Him more.

He desires to take us a step deeper into His heart.

Day by day, we watch as He reveals more of Himself.

Some days it seems dynamic, but more often,

it is in the midst of the simple and menial tasks of our day,

that we begin to see and understand who He is, where He is taking us,

and who we are becoming in the process.

We are the only thing stopping the progress by refusing to walk in the direction God is leading.

We must trust completely, know the path He has chosen is best, and perfect,

and soon we will discover that what He desires for us will be what we desire.

Prayer - I choose to walk the path You have chosen for me.

Help me to remain focused on You and what I am becoming

as You skillfully make each necessary change within my heart.

Unless You build it, it is all in vain. Amen.

2010-03-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

My faith has stared doubt strait in the eye.... and doubt blinked.

2010-03-22T09:29:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Amerika...

2010-03-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

Cultural Christianity or Authentic Christianity...

Without God , we're lost...

The lack of framework for moral decisions...

Imagine the world without the church of Christ, all the missionary work, all the hospitals, all the homeless shelters, all the rehabilitation programs, all the orphanages, all the relief organizations, all the selfless feeding of the hungry and clothing of the poor and encouraging of the sick.

Just imagine...

There is no other way, no other "religion" waiting in the wings to fill the needs of suffering people.

The loss of the church of Christ would be a devastating blow to the world...

Captivating...

2010-03-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

Been Reading about how the devil used to be an angel in charge of legions of other angels in heaven. He was supposably very beautiful and became proud and jealous of God's glory and the fact others worshiped Him. For his sin and lack of obedience he was thrown down to earth, out of god's grace forever. He now represents death and ugliness. His number one target on earth had become women due to their natural beauty and capacity to bring life into the world. Notice how he did not attack Adam in the garden, but Eve. I believe he has been working to destroy women ever since. Just look at history and you will see the pattern. The evil works of men have been suppressing, killing and maiming women since that time. Up until not to long ago, some chinese would leave their daughter for dead, preferring a boy, or binding their feet in some sick twisted belief that small feet are beautiful. In the middle east, women have few rights and even need three witnesses to clear their name in court, where men only need one. Men there believe they are three times more important than women.

Lord, come back soon so that the evil one will be sent into darkness forever and we will never again be subject to his evil influence. While we wait, may we have the sense and clarity to see the truth, resist his influence and treat women as the nurturing, life giving, captivating, lovely companions who play an irreplaceable, most important part of our great journey on earth. In Jesus name, Amen
ly sp

3/18/2010 Thnaks Tim..

2010-03-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 22-25

2010-03-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Lord, I know the way to maintain a clear conscious is to live by your commandments and the moral law you set in my heart. Help me resist the temptation to live any other way. Years of trial and error have taught me that I cannot do it with out your help. As I write this, I am reminded of your servant David and the psalm he wrote for the glory of your name. It is so true Lord.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

AMEN...

The great patron saint....Patrick.

2010-03-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

Irish folklore tells that one of his teaching methods included using the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) to the Irish people.

Totally committed to stand up....

2010-03-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

"Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it.
Joshua 7:10-12

Am I not liable to destruction? Destruction of the people I pray for. Destruction of my dreams. Destruction of my future. Lord, forgive me. Help me turn from my sin, my devoted things, and allow me to enter back into the great covenant you made with me upon salvation. Father, I want to stand against my enemies. I do not want to run. Today, I consecrate myself. Today, I Stand up.. In Jesus name, AMEN...

my baloons

2010-03-15T12:25:00.000-07:00

Balloons

Our trip to Guatemala is coming to an end. The men placed a new roof on the meeting building for the Church and the women are running a medical clinic. Many people lined up to have their ailments addressed but the one that drew my attention was a small boy, maybe 5 years old, being carried by his mother. I watched when they were called. His problem was obvious – a thorn had buried itself deep in his foot and been left unattended. By this point infection had set in and the doctor was clear that if they didn’t get it out the child was in danger of losing his foot or worse. They had to lance it. I watched as several adults and the mother tried to hold the child down and the doctor began to cut on the swollen foot with no medicine. As they began the child looked, with piercing eyes, at his mother and screamed. I couldn’t imagine the pain of that mother as she watched her child suffer. I didn’t even know the kid and my eyes were filled with tears. Suddenly my attention was diverted to the other side of the building. Blue tarps had been suspended to separate the waiting area from the place where patients were treated. Many children were in this waiting area and one of the missionaries had given them balloons. Like all children they were hitting the balloons into the air and trying to keep them from touching the ground. I was amazed at how oblivious they were to the screams of that small child as they played with the different colored balloons. It was as if they couldn’t even hear his cries of pain. They were so preoccupied with laughter and joy as they entertained themselves.

Then I began to think about my life. I thought about the spiritual emptiness of the individuals that live across the street, the surfers with deep wounds in their lives, the painful brokenness that exists globally. Oblivious to their cries I am busy swatting at balloons of entertainment, comfort, and pleasure. Once King David had an opportunity to offer a sacrifice to God for free. His response, “I will not offer to God that which costs me nothing!” What will we offer to God, time between balloon games or will we run to those cries across the street and around the world?

Sat...

2010-03-15T08:57:00.000-07:00

2010-03-12T06:57:00.000-08:00

2010-03-11T10:21:00.001-08:00

Lord, I bow again and receive Your grace anew. I am thankful that You have brought me out of the darkness and into the Light. You have called me and set me apart for Your purposes. Help me not walk in the ignorance of my former self, but walk in the life of Holiness I am designed for! I will prepare my mind to walk in this truth and never allow myself to believe lesser things about the things my mind tends to think. I will keep my sights on You today! Amen.

3/7/10

2010-03-11T10:15:00.000-08:00

2010-03-10T15:23:00.001-08:00

Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were." ---Cherie Carter-Scott

2010-03-05T06:38:00.000-08:00

Mar 5, 2010

Senator Lindsey Graham
Russell Senate Office Building, Room 290
Constitution and Delaware Avenues, NE
Washington, DC 20510-4003

Dear Senator Graham,

I am deeply concerned about the President's health care reform bill
that will shortly be considered by the Congress. Under this version of
reform, the federal government will have the power to require private
insurance plans to include abortion coverage as a part of their package
of "preventive care." This is a serious defect in the
legislation. While it is true that the current version of reform
states that certain federal funds cannot directly pay for those
abortions that currently cannot be paid for by federal funds under the
Hyde Amendment, that critical safeguard will become meaningless if the
Hyde Amendment is ever eliminated. This is a very serious threat and
grave concern given that supporters of abortion have identified the
elimination of the Hyde Amendment as their highest legislative
priority, and will no doubt take action to eliminate Hyde quickly if
reform, as currently proposed is passed. Furthermore, this funding
prohibition is narrowly written and would not apply to other funds in
the bill, such as the 11 billion dollars authorized for "Community
Health Centers." Those funds could be used to directly pay for
abortions.

Also, under the current reform bill, subsidies to insurance plans that
cover abortion will be the norm; individual states will have to pass
new legislation to prevent subsidies from going to plans that cover
abortions in their state. This requirement is a complete reversal of
the long-established federal approach to abortion.

Inclusion of the Stupak Amendment is the only possible remedy to these
serious problems. I urge you and your Congressional colleagues to
address this matter by including the Stupak Amendment in health care
reform legislation without delay.

Sincerely,

Mr. James Maples
96 Mathews Dr
Hilton Head, SC 29926-3601

Earthquake in Taiwan...

2010-03-04T10:06:00.000-08:00

Animate and inanimate creation groans for His glory! Rom 8:22.

All who make idols are nothing,
and the things they treasure are worthless.
Those who would speak up for them are blind;
they are ignorant, to their own shame.

Who shapes a god and casts an idol,
which can profit him nothing?

He and his kind will be put to shame;
craftsmen are nothing but men.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
they will be brought down to terror and infamy.

Isaiah 44:9-11

Lord, protect the innocent and comfort those who have lost...I pray they turn to you through this tragedy..Amen

Recent earthquakes...

2010-03-04T08:37:00.000-08:00

Time Magnitude Location
2 hours ago 6.4 Vanuatu
4 hours ago 3.9 Offshore Northern California
16 hours ago 6.4 Taiwan

2010-03-01T09:37:00.000-08:00

"In light of heaven, the worst sufferings on earth, a life full of the most atrocious tortures on earth, will be seen to be no more serious than one night in an inconvenient hotel." - Saint Teresa

A case for faith...

2010-03-01T08:28:00.000-08:00

Have faith in God and Heaven...If death has no meaning, how can life ultimately have meaning?

2010-02-25T12:11:00.001-08:00

It takes ALL kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people. If Jesus is honored & lives transformed, I like how you do it! -Warren

Dave Muir Rocks Waterman League

2010-02-24T08:47:00.000-08:00

Dave Muir Rocks Waterman League

frame grab test 2...

2010-02-24T08:09:00.000-08:00

frame grab test...sweet...

2010-02-24T08:05:00.000-08:00

IVideo test...fine pix to I video to dix player to u tube to blogger...there has to be a better way...

2010-02-23T09:14:00.000-08:00

Video frame grabs from Glen...

2010-02-23T06:24:00.000-08:00

2010-02-22T07:27:00.001-08:00

Sunday, February 21, 2010
Harvest Principle: Give generously
by Rick Warren
Then Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. "There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?" John 6:8-9 (NLT)Â

Whenever you have a need, acknowledge your faith by planting a seed. In other words, take your focus off your need and look at ways you can provide for the needs of others, planting a seed in their lives.

This isn't easy; it goes against our nature; it's totally illogical. If I'm out of money, I'm probably going to think, 'I can't give away any money?' Or, if I'm out of time, I'm probably going to think, 'Why should I spend more time on something else?' Or, if I don't have any energy in a relationship, I'm probably going to think, 'How can I give more energy away?'

Yet, God says this is exactly what demonstrates faith: when you have a need, you plant a seed.

You can see this principle imbedded in our blood. When you give away blood, you get more blood. You don't end up with less blood; you end up with as much blood or more than you had before.

God often works through this harvest principle, that when you have a need, you give - and what you give away, God replenishes. Faith is like a seed, so it has to be planted - deposited.

Remember the story of the little boy who had five loaves and two fish? He gives them away, and God uses it to feed 5,000 people. Jesus takes what the boy gives; He breaks it; He blesses it; and He uses it.Â

That's what God does in our lives.Â He takes us; He breaks us; He blesses us; and He uses us. He multiplied a little into a lot because it was planted as a seed.

2010-02-19T06:38:00.001-08:00

Friday, February 19, 2010
We know God's Truth Jesus Christ
by Rick Warren
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NLT)Â

The Bible says that Jesus was full of grace and truth. Truth is not a principle. Truth is a person; truth is Jesus Christ.

One of the clearest and best-known statements by Jesus is: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." (John 14:6, NLT)

Notice Jesus says, "I and the truth ...." He doesn't say truth is a religion, or a ritual, or a set of rules and regulations. He says "I." Truth is a person.

This is what separates Jesus Christ from every other leader of every other faith. Other leaders have said, "I'm looking for the truth" or "I'm teaching the truth" or "I point to the truth" or "I'm a prophet of truth." Jesus comes and says, "I am the truth."

A lot of people say, "I think Jesus was just a great teacher." But he couldn't be just that: No great teacher would claim to be God if he wasn't. Either Jesus is conning 2.3 billion people who believe a lie, or he was nuts, or Jesus is who he said he was.

Everybody's betting their life on something. I'm betting my life that Jesus is who he said he was.

What do you do with the truth once you've discovered it? Four things:

1. Believe the truth!

2. Do the truth -- Truth is not just an intellectual exercise; it's something you obey.

3. Stand for the truth -- The Bible tells us our responsibility is to never oppose the truth but to stand for it at all times.

4. Spread the truth.

The Bible says, "Let everything you do reflect your love of the truth and the fact that you were in dead earnest about it." (Titus 2:7) There's a lot in the Bible that I don't understand and that makes me uncomfortable. But the fact is, it is the truth. It is a map that always takes me where it promises.

"Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!'" (John 14:6-7, NLT)

JONAH [LENT 2010]

2010-02-18T06:33:00.000-08:00

From deep in the realm of the dead Jonah calls for help. And God listens to his cry.
Jonah and the big fish—it's a story for Bible storybooks and Sunday school flannelboards. It requires us to believe the impossible, but more than that, it forces us to confront truths that we're more comfortable relegating to children's stories and myths. We don't want to take seriously its claims.
But Jesus saw the story of Jonah as central to everything he was doing through his death and resurrection—he called it the sign of Jonah.
Few stories capture the spirit of repentance and return like the story of Jonah. It's a story of God's compassion and longing for all people to return to him. It's a story of running and returning, of illusions and disillusions, of disobedience and spiteful obedience, and ultimately about a world completely transformed by God's love.
What if we could name our own illusions about how the world ought to work and open ourselves to the world God longs to bring into being?
What if coming to the end of ourselves brought us to a new beginning in God?
What if God's compassion were planted so deeply into our being
that it would challenge all of
our assumptions
our anger
our prejudices?

2010-02-17T08:24:00.001-08:00

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
We Know God's Truth through Careful Consideration
by Rick Warren
Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. Proverbs 4:26 (HCSB)Â

When you tell God, "I want the truth more than anything else," he will reveal his truth to you in a variety of ways, such as through creation or your conscience and also through careful consideration.

In other words, truth is knowable. You can test it; you can experiment with it; you can prove it.

If I want to go to San Francisco and I follow a map that takes me to San Francisco, and the next week I follow the same map to San Francisco again, eventually I figure out that the map is true.

The same is true of the Bible: If you follow its map again and again, you'll find it to be true. It always takes you where it says it's going to take you. You may not always like where it takes you, but it always takes you where it says it's going to take you.

Often people say, "Why won't God just write it in the sky?" Why would God do that? He gave you a brain. But most people never slow down long enough for such careful consideration. Most people just drift through life.

The Bible tells us, "Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established." (Proverbs 4:26, HCSB)

Spend some time in careful consideration, in thoughtful observation, and ask yourself: "Am I on a true path?"

2010-02-16T08:33:00.001-08:00

Tuesday, February 16, 2010
We Know God's Truth through Creation
by Rick Warren
But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! Romans 1:19 (MSG)Â

About 35 years ago, I was at a camp in the mountains. Alone in a room, I prayed, "God, if there is a God, I'm open. If you're real, I want to know you're real. And, Jesus Christ, if you can change my life, if there is a purpose for my life, I want to know it."

You know what happened? I didn't get goose bumps. I didn't cry. No bright lights shown down. Nothing like that.

Yet, still, it was the turning point in my life - because I was no longer biasing myself against God. I wanted to know the truth, even if it was inconvenient.

Truth can be discovered, but first we have to have an attitude of openness that says, "I want the truth more than anything else." Once you choose that attitude, you can discover the truth. How?

First, through creation --

We learn a lot about God, a lot about truth, just by looking at nature. This is why science is so important. It helps us understand God and His universe.

For instance, by knowing that there are 60,000 varieties of beetles, we learn God likes variety. By seeing a volcano, a tidal wave, or an earthquake, we learn God is powerful. From the delicately balanced ecosystem, we can observe God is incredibly organized.

The Bible says, "The basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse." Romans 1:19-20 (MSG)

God will also lead us to the truth through conscience, careful consideration, God's commandments, and through Jesus Christ.

Surf night at Beach Break Grille....Thank you Tim, Gail, and Glen...

2010-02-15T08:51:00.001-08:00

more surf night pics...

2010-02-15T08:49:00.000-08:00

2010-02-12T09:32:00.001-08:00

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. - 1 Corinthians 9:25-27

2010-02-12T06:04:00.001-08:00

PEACE, I leave with you, MY peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

Our lives are in the vine not the fruit...

2010-02-11T09:15:00.001-08:00

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." - John 15:1-2

Notice that both branches get cut. The difference is in how we respond to the pain of the pruning. In many ways, the way that we bear the pruning is how we know that we are growing in our relationship with God. Do we get bitter, or better? What does the experience of loss or hindrance expose in us?

Our Father is a faithful gardener, ready to cut off the things in our lives that don't bear fruit, and reminding the fruitful ones that our life is not in the fruit, but only in the vine.

daily bible verse...

2010-02-10T10:06:00.000-08:00

Looks like the whole of the ocean is ablaze with the twinkling reflection of the sun....

2010-02-04T09:48:00.001-08:00

SUCCESS is when you add value to yourself
SIGNIFICANCE is when you add value to others.

2010-02-03T12:10:00.001-08:00

" The unconscious worry is that if I let go of my habit, my hurt, or my hang-up, who will I be?

2010-02-01T08:49:00.001-08:00

What If?

What if God was capable of something miraculous, like transforming surfers?

Luke 2:37 “For nothing is impossible with God.”

What if God wanted to rescue surfer’s souls?

2 Peter 3:9 “…He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

What if God was waiting on you to ask Him to move among surfers?

Matthew 7:8 “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

What if we stopped being so busy and started spending time with God talking about surfers?

Luke 10:42 “Martha, Martha,” the LORD answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed, Mary has chosen what is better…” –Mary had chosen to sit at Jesus’ feet.

What if we prayed everyday for the month of February about surfers? What would happen? There’s only one way to find out. Do it!

2010-01-29T08:19:00.001-08:00

"It's Alright"

Your letter said that you were leaving
But you didn't know how long
I have never stopped believing
That one day you would return
And though waiting is the hardest
Part of everything I do
I do confess it's getting better
Knowing I will be with you

It's alright
It's okay
I won't worry about tomorrow
For it brings me one more day
Closer than I was to you

Now the question isn't "will you"
What I want to know is "when"
If it's one day or a million
I will wait for you 'til then
So I'm holding on to your words
And the promises you've made
There is not one you have broken
There's not one I didn't take

Your letter said that you were leaving
But you didn't know how long
I will never stop believing
I know one day you will return

2010-01-28T11:31:00.001-08:00

HAPPY BIRHDAY JESSICA

2010-01-28T11:28:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday Jessica......

Couple from Tim....Sunday

2010-01-25T10:13:00.000-08:00

Coocoo & Elseeloo

2010-01-25T09:55:00.000-08:00

Bond..

2010-01-25T09:47:00.001-08:00

Jesus's Miracles...

2010-01-25T07:44:00.000-08:00

In no event did the Miracles bowlpeople over and "steamroller" them into belief. Otherwise, there would be no room for faith.

2010-01-25T06:45:00.001-08:00

To be tough on others & lenient with yourself is hypocrisy.To be lenient with others but tough on yourself is holiness Rom2:1/1 Cor11:31

2010-01-21T12:12:00.000-08:00

The genuine realist, if he is an unbeliever, will always find strength and ability to disbelive in the miraculous, and if he is confronted with a miricle as an irrefutable fact he would rather disbelieve his own senses than admit the fact. Faith does not....spring from the miracle, but the miracle from faith...

Fyodor Dostoevsky

2010-01-19T07:45:00.000-08:00

2010-01-19T06:46:00.001-08:00

St. Augustine...

2010-01-18T06:36:00.000-08:00

2010-01-14T09:25:00.000-08:00

Couple pics of reebs this winter...

2010-01-11T07:33:00.001-08:00

Memory poem of REEBAH......

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the waves you ride letting it flow.
I am the sunlight on a the cresting surf,
I am the gentle rain covering the turf..

When you awaken in the
morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in soaring in flight,
I am the soft stars that twinkle upon you at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.

Thanks bro bro

2010-01-08T08:47:00.001-08:00

Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. - Matthew 10:32-33

2010-01-07T12:08:00.001-08:00

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." - Romans 1:16-17

Princess Reebah 1995-2010 Rest in Peace

2010-01-05T08:55:00.000-08:00

Listen, O Daughter, consider and give ear: forget your people and your fathers house. The king is enthralled by your beauty, honor him, for he is your lord. -Psalm 45

2010-01-05T07:41:00.000-08:00

True inspiration comes when the searching mind joins with the revealing Spirit of God.

Search and you will find...Mat 7:7

Happy New Year...

2009-12-31T08:48:00.000-08:00

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. - Galatians 5:16

Christmas day re-touched

Meek'ness

2009-12-29T07:48:00.000-08:00

1.) Power under control

A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.

Psalm 37:10-11

Christmas Gifts...May the light of Jesus shine upon us in 2010...

2009-12-28T08:17:00.000-08:00

Zachariah's song to his son John...

2009-12-28T07:32:00.000-08:00

Luke 1:76-80

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;
To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins,
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.

Merry Christmas...

2009-12-22T06:35:00.000-08:00

Why Jesus????

2009-12-17T09:04:00.001-08:00

God sent Jesus so you could know what He's like. If God wanted to communicate to birds, He would have become a bird. If God had wanted to communicate to cows, He would have become a cow. If He wanted to communicate to dogs, He would have become a dog. But God wanted to relate to you and to me, so He became like us -- a human being.

The thing is this -- I don't have the foggiest idea of what it means to relate to something like 'The Force' -- some impersonal power in the sky. But when I see Jesus in human form, I can say, "That's what God's like. I can understand that."

This is why Christmas is not about a religion. You may be Catholic; you may be Jewish; you may be Presbyterian, or Buddhist, or Baptist, or Lutheran; I don't care what your religious background is, Jesus didn't come to give you religion. He came to give you a relationship.

Christmas is God saying, "I want to relate to you. I want you to know Me as much as I know you." That's joyful news. It's good news!

December 14

2009-12-14T07:34:00.000-08:00

Fun with Glen, Scott, Brandon...perfect glass and fog...life is good...

ISAIAH

2009-12-12T14:03:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 52:13-15 (New International Version)

The Suffering and Glory of the Servant

13 See, my servant will act wisely [a] ;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him [b]—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness—

15 so will he sprinkle many nations, [c]
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.

I was moved by the spirit to read this last night...It was as if the words were coming fresh off His lips for me to hear.

2009-12-08T09:00:00.001-08:00

As I finished reading my eyes continued to the top of the next page and it read; Revelation....I smiled and realized the Word is alive.
Jude 1

1Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,
To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by[a] Jesus Christ:

2Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

The sin and doom of Godless men

3Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4For certain men whose condemnation was written about[b] long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
5Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord[c] delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. 6And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 7In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

8In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. 9But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" 10Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals—these are the very things that destroy them.

11Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion.

12These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

14Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him." 16These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

A call to persevere

17But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." 19These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
20But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Doxology

24To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

The head moves the body....

2009-12-07T10:48:00.000-08:00

A brain expresses itsef through cells obidient to it's command. And God expresses Himself through a Body in which He serves as head. -In His Image

The Symbol of the Blood...

2009-12-05T13:40:00.000-08:00

Today, when we partake of communion wine, it is as though our Lord is saying to us, This is My blood, which has been strengthened and prepared for you. This is my life which was lived for you and can now be shared with you. I was tired, frustrated, tempted, abandoned; tomorrow you may feel tired, frustrated, tempted, or abandoned. When you do, you may use my strength and share My spirit. I have overcome the world for you. An overwhelming, sudden temptation can catch even the strongest Christian off guard. We need to be prepared, and the symbol of the blood reveals how: by relying on the wise and powerful blood of the One who goes before. -Paul Brand & Philip Yancy...In His image

How to have peace by; Jesus, Psalmist and Billy Grahmm...

2009-12-05T08:56:00.000-08:00

“I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
-Psalm 34:4
Man has always been beset by worry, and the pressures of modern life have aggravated the problem. To men of all time Jesus said, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow . . . but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33–34). Many of you are filled with a thousand anxieties. Bring them to Jesus Christ by faith. He will bring peace to your soul and your mind.

2009-11-30T14:06:00.001-08:00

All-Natural Almond Milk

1 1/2 cups of raw almonds, soaked in water overnight
4 cups of filtered or spring water
3-5 dates (optional)

Blend 1 ½ cups of raw almonds that have been soaked overnight in 4 cups of water. Blend with dates if you like your milk with a hint of sweetness. Strain once to remove almond granules. The result is a delicious, creamy milk that is free of harmful vegetable oil, concentrated sweeteners, and the problems associated with cow’s milk and soy. It can be stored safely for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

2009-11-30T10:57:00.000-08:00

Christianity, by contrast, is not in it's essence a religion at all; it is a gospel, the gospel, good news that God's grace has turned away his wrath, that God's Son has died our death and born our judgment, that God has mercy on the undeserving, and that there is nothing left for us to do, or even contribute. Faith's only function is to receive what grace offers. Stott

God can 'righteous' the unrighteous without compromising his righteousness

2009-11-30T10:35:00.000-08:00

God purosed Jesus Christ to be a propitiatory sacrifice in order "that he might justify sinners righteously, that is, in a way that is altogether worthy of himself as the truly loving and merciful eternal God. For God to have forgiven their sin lightly would have been ' to have comprimised with the lie that moral evil does not matter and so to have violated his own truth and mocked men with an empty, lying reassurance, which, at their most human, they must have recognized as the squalid falsehood which it would have been.' -Charles cranfield

What to do when there are no waves....

2009-11-29T05:39:00.000-08:00

Great day fishing...lots of action

hummm....(low sound)

2009-11-24T13:26:00.000-08:00

In case there are people who don't understand why we invaded Iraq, it is because in 1973 we got rid of the Bretton Woods banking system (aka gold standard) and switched to fractional reserve banking. When we did this, it made our currency no longer backed by anything (called a fiat currency that relies on faith of monetary policy). So then why would anybody want to buy a currency that has no gold or silver value behind it...? Because in the same year, OPEC passed a law making every country in the world that wants to buy oil from their member countries, would no longer be able to use their own currency, but would have to buy US Dollars first and then use those to purchase oil at one of two oil bourses in the world, London and New York. This gave the dollar a demand on the global market, and every country that buys oil from countries that are in OPEC must first purchase US Dollars. That was until the year 2000 when Saddam Hussein decided he would no longer accept US dollars for Iraq's oil. He paid off people in the UN and OPEC and was able to get approval to switch from the dollar to two forms of payment, food (oil for food) or Euros. At the time, Euros were worth 80 cents to the dollar. Over the next 2 years, Iran, North Korea and Venezuela would follow what Saddam had done and no longer accepted US Dollars but only the Euro. This caused countries that were buying oil from Iran, Iraq, & Venzuela to trade their US dollars in on the global currency market for Euros, dropping the demand (value) for the dollar and raising demand (value) for the Euro. It was right after this that George Bush got on the TV and gave his speech about the Axis of Evil and the need to get rid of Saddam Hussein because of Weapons of Mass Destruction (that Iraq DID have because Donald Rumsfeld's corpoation sold them chemical and biological weapons during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980's that were used on the Kurds)... We went into Iraq, toppled the regime and the first thing we did was switch the currency of oil exchange back to the dollar. Iran recently opened the third oil exchange in the world and eliminated the dollar from the exchange. This article is on how much they have made by making this move...It is economic warfare and a counter move to the sanctions that we have placed on Iran to destroy their economy. Who suffers in this fight? The PEOPLE of both countries who now have to pay for soaring inflation because the value of the dollar has dropped so far and it has not been reflected in their paychecks!

Wed. morning South end....Pics by Glen. B.

2009-11-18T06:35:00.000-08:00

John 3:31-36

2009-11-17T07:20:00.001-08:00

31"The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God[a] gives the Spirit without limit. 35The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."[b]

Who am i...?

2009-11-14T10:29:00.000-08:00

Who am I? They often tell me
I stepped from my cell’s confinement
Calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
Like a squire from his country-house.
Who am I? They often tell me
I used to speak to my warders
Freely and friendly and clearly,
As though it were mine to command.
Who am I? They also tell me
I bore the days of misfortune
Equally, smilingly, proudly,
Like one accustomed to win.

Am I then really all that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I myself know of myself?
Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
Struggling for breath, as though hands were
compressing my throat,
Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,
Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,
Tossing in expectation of great events,
Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,
Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,
Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?

Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person today and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
And before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army,
Fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?
Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, Thou knowest, 0 God, I am Thine!
March 4,1946 D.B.

2009-11-11T10:31:00.000-08:00

The man who surrenders to Christ exchanges a cruel slave driver for a kind and gentle Master who's yoke is easy and burden is light. A.W.Tozer

Soul....

2009-11-10T10:22:00.000-08:00

My soul has eyes with which to see and ears with which to hear. feeble they may be from long disuse, but by the life giving touch of Christ they are now alive and capable of sharpest sight and most sensitive hearing....Tozer

Jessica suppin...

2009-11-06T06:30:00.000-08:00

7:00am on a schoolday...

Doctrine of the body...

2009-11-05T10:30:00.000-08:00

We are all "with Christ" as a consequence of the incarnation because he took up our whole human nature into His body. By His death on the cross he took up (bore) all of humanities transgressions and iniquities into his body. The church is His new body. We continue to commune with Him through his new resurrected body. On the cross blood and water sprung from His body. We commune with Him through the sacraments of His body, baptized with [water] into His new body, free of the old transgressions and iniquities, and He comes to live within us (our old nature dead [crucified]). We sustain our fellowship with Him through the Lords supper (wine [blood] and bread). All of His body...

I am only begining to grasp this doctrine and understand it...Powerful stuff...Glory be to God...